Bryophilous lichen

A bryophilous lichen is one that grows on a bryophyte – that is, on a moss or liverwort.^[1] Those which grow on mosses are known as muscicolous lichens,^[2] while those which grow on liverworts are called hepaticolous lichens.^[3] Muscicolous derives from the Latin muscus meaning moss,^[4] while the suffix colous means "living or growing in or on".^[5] Lichens are slow-growing organisms, and so are far more likely to be overgrown by a bryophyte than to overgrow one.^[6][7] However, they are better able to compete if the bryophyte is sickly or decaying and they can be parasitic upon them.^[1][8][9] Some, rather than overgrowing the bryophyte, instead live among its branches.^[9] Bryophilous lichens are particularly common in heathland and arctic or alpine tundra.^[9] Because many are small and inconspicuous, they are easy to overlook.^[1]